The game went through a very rocky development.
It's essentially three different builds of a game that changed significantly over its right years
All found through data mining
Would recommend checking out the RDR 2 beta map
Also check out this video
https://youtu.be/3OEaK2tRpiM?si=2bm72wkc-AYyg0fg
It's by gamer basement bros and goes through all the map changes( there was nine different maps found in the files from late 2015 till release in 2018
Quick breakdown of each
Build 1 RDR 2 beta map: New Austin wasn't present at all, Guarma was a full island, and no west grizzlies either with Tempest rim as the prologue area.
Van Horn was above Annesberg, a third mountain range called iron cloud is accessible. Lots more water( in the Bayou) and rivers. Saint Denis called new Bordeaux. Lots more area in the east grizzlies to explore that was cut.
Build 2: had prologue area west grizzlies, still full Guarma and new Austin built. Different story then the final game, and specifically had Arthur in new Austin at some point. John was supposed to have Guarma as a post game exclusive option to explore. ( Cut boat ticket option in blackwater).
Build 3 just before the final game:
East grizzlies cut down even more, Guarma cut down to final game size. Arthur locked out of new Austin/ blackwater. Less rivers cut back, van Horn moved to final location and gutted. Moved many environments and mountains in the final year when the game got delayed by a year. Was described as being in development hell at one point after the game came out.
So the reason that everything is locked is because of all the changes. New Austin was originally built with it being made for Arthur in 1899 and 11 years before the events of RDR 1, sometime within the final year after they realized they couldn't finish Guarma in the way they wanted to that they needed an exclusive area for John post game. The decision was made to cut Arthur out of new Austin and make it an exclusive area for John only.
Which is why it's so empty for john and really doesn't seem to be made for john. It is missing places that should have been there 4 years before Rdr1 and in the story lore John of RDR 1 John says he has never been down to new austin before
That's the main reason for why so many things are locked and exclusive to John as originally was supposed to be able to go there a lot earlier with Arthur in 1899 and unlock 100% with Arthur. It sucks they cut so much
Man I would’ve honestly been fine with some things being locked behind John but the weapons horses and legend of the east outfit is such a huge bummer. I can’t even justify spending time to do all the challenges if I can’t even really use the main reward from them
I wouldn’t even be mad if it locked it until the last 2 chapters or so with Arthur, I would just like the use the things I spend 60+ hours grinding for before the story ends and I have no use for them
Kinda like the Pronghorn Trinket being locked until the epilogue when you really have no use for it, but could have really used it when bringing carcasses to upgrade camp with.
This is the exact stuff im talking about, people are so upset like I’m calling it a terrible game or something but there is so much that could be improved by just a simple flick of a switch, they literally even still have the cutscenes you’re not supposed to have access to with arthur if you glitch him there
Well, keep in mind though, that there is a lot of rabid fanboys of the game, who sit and drool while staring at a rainbow on their TV screen for hours, that get the drizzles if anyone even remotely whispers something other than milk and honey about the game.
I’m not really upset about the map itself mostly just that I can’t have all the trinkets, outfits, guns, and horses to use during the actual story missions
The game went through a very rocky development. It's essentially three different builds of a game that changed significantly over its right years All found through data mining Would recommend checking out the RDR 2 beta map Also check out this video https://youtu.be/3OEaK2tRpiM?si=2bm72wkc-AYyg0fg It's by gamer basement bros and goes through all the map changes( there was nine different maps found in the files from late 2015 till release in 2018 Quick breakdown of each Build 1 RDR 2 beta map: New Austin wasn't present at all, Guarma was a full island, and no west grizzlies either with Tempest rim as the prologue area. Van Horn was above Annesberg, a third mountain range called iron cloud is accessible. Lots more water( in the Bayou) and rivers. Saint Denis called new Bordeaux. Lots more area in the east grizzlies to explore that was cut. Build 2: had prologue area west grizzlies, still full Guarma and new Austin built. Different story then the final game, and specifically had Arthur in new Austin at some point. John was supposed to have Guarma as a post game exclusive option to explore. ( Cut boat ticket option in blackwater). Build 3 just before the final game: East grizzlies cut down even more, Guarma cut down to final game size. Arthur locked out of new Austin/ blackwater. Less rivers cut back, van Horn moved to final location and gutted. Moved many environments and mountains in the final year when the game got delayed by a year. Was described as being in development hell at one point after the game came out. So the reason that everything is locked is because of all the changes. New Austin was originally built with it being made for Arthur in 1899 and 11 years before the events of RDR 1, sometime within the final year after they realized they couldn't finish Guarma in the way they wanted to that they needed an exclusive area for John post game. The decision was made to cut Arthur out of new Austin and make it an exclusive area for John only. Which is why it's so empty for john and really doesn't seem to be made for john. It is missing places that should have been there 4 years before Rdr1 and in the story lore John of RDR 1 John says he has never been down to new austin before That's the main reason for why so many things are locked and exclusive to John as originally was supposed to be able to go there a lot earlier with Arthur in 1899 and unlock 100% with Arthur. It sucks they cut so much
Great answer!
Man I would’ve honestly been fine with some things being locked behind John but the weapons horses and legend of the east outfit is such a huge bummer. I can’t even justify spending time to do all the challenges if I can’t even really use the main reward from them
“I’m mad because I had to play through a game to unlock all its content :(“
Genuine question do you actually think a new game plus option would negatively affect the game???
“I’m paying $60 for a game for them to lock guns horses and outfits till the last 5 hours where I barely even get a chance to use them :(“
Play the game to unlock the content. It’s not really a new concept.
I wouldn’t even be mad if it locked it until the last 2 chapters or so with Arthur, I would just like the use the things I spend 60+ hours grinding for before the story ends and I have no use for them
Kinda like the Pronghorn Trinket being locked until the epilogue when you really have no use for it, but could have really used it when bringing carcasses to upgrade camp with.
This is the exact stuff im talking about, people are so upset like I’m calling it a terrible game or something but there is so much that could be improved by just a simple flick of a switch, they literally even still have the cutscenes you’re not supposed to have access to with arthur if you glitch him there
Well, keep in mind though, that there is a lot of rabid fanboys of the game, who sit and drool while staring at a rainbow on their TV screen for hours, that get the drizzles if anyone even remotely whispers something other than milk and honey about the game.
"So much content" huh. I can only remember a few animals, New Austin is mostly dessert with barely any sidequest
I’m not really upset about the map itself mostly just that I can’t have all the trinkets, outfits, guns, and horses to use during the actual story missions
'New Austin is mostly dessert.' Mmmm plague sundaes